Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific will now adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach over staff members participating in protests, after caving into pressure from China.
It is now warning employees they face being fired.
The ‘actions and words of employees can have a significant effect on the company,’ CEO Rupert Hogg said in an internal memo.
The airline has already suspended a pilot who was arrested during a protest and two other workers were dismissed for leaking the travel details of a HK police soccer team.
The airline will also comply with demands to supply China authorities with identification details of all crew members working flights that enter China airspace.
Beijing said it would ban Cathay employees who participate in the ‘illegal demonstrations.’
The Civil Aviation Administration of China claims workers involved in protests are a threat to aviation safety in China.
Earlier this week protestors flooded Hong Kong International Airport forcing Cathay and other airlines to cancel flights as the airport closed down all operations overnight.
